NFL Lockout Hurting Chances For School Of Mines Star

GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) – The Colorado School of Mines produces engineers, not professional football players. But Marc Schiechl is different.

Schiechl tore up the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. He was one of the most fearsome pass rushers in Division II football. Although he didn’t get drafted by an NFL team, several teams are interested — very interested.

Normally a player like Schiechl gets signed as an undrafted free agent. But the trouble is teams aren’t allowed to sign free agents during the lockout.

“It kind of feels like we’re just training to train,” Schiechl said. “Before we were training for the Pro Day, and then kind of training for minicamp. It’s gone on so long that it seems like you don’t really know what you are doing any more … the best thing you can do is just keep training.”

Schiechl said he can’t get the mindset that the lockout won’t end soon and take time off from training. He said if he were to take a week off of training, it might be the week the lockout ends.

“Especially somebody like me from a lower school, but I’m confident that I’ll get picked up somewhere once the whole lockout is over,” he said.

Schiechl said he assumed he wasn’t going to get drafted and didn’t get his hopes up.

“Just because you’re drafted, even in the fourth round, doesn’t guarantee you a roster spot. You still have to go out there and prove yourself.”

All Schiechl wants is a shot.

“Right off the bat I have to prove myself. I don’t have a month to just kind of do nothing and then pop out and impress them. I have to impress them right off the bat.”

Schiechl hasn’t missed a game in his life due to injury.

“I work out on my own a lot and I’m very self-motivated. I have a very strong work ethic.”

He said many people didn’t even think he could play at the college level because he’s too small, but he’s proved everybody wrong.

“I don’t see why somebody wouldn’t take a chance … I’ve put up just as good or better numbers on my Pro Day than a lot of the guys did. I’ve trained with some of the NFL guys and I’m keeping up with them. I just have to go out there and show everybody.”

Schiechl said the best situation for him is if the NFL lockout gets settled as soon as possible since he wasn’t drafted.

“I don’t know what team I’m going to play for or what position I’m going to play … I don’t have a playbook, so the longer it goes on, the less time I have to learn the defense, and the less chance I have of making a team.”

Schiechl says he’s certainly not discouraged.

“I’m just assuming it’s going to get resolved soon, so that keeps me motivated.”